Group,
In the past 20+ years I've owned (or did they own me?) 4 different RV's
that doubled as tow rigs.
I started out out with a 20' Dodge chassis Mini Motorhome powered by a
360" Mo-Par. No auxiliary generator or roof-air, somewhat light on power when
towing an enclosed trailer, but otherwise self contained.
That was followed by a 25' Dodge chassis Mini Motorhome powered by a 440"
Mo-Par. This RV had bunk beds in the back (excellent for crew members), an
auxiliary generator, air-conditioning, lots of power, and pretty good fuel
economy, no dinette (a waste of good space), captains chairs for lounging,
and lots of other plusses.
Next came an 11 1/2' slide-in camper mounted on a 1968 GMC 3/4 ton single
wheel pickup powered by a 396"BBC with a 4-speed "crunch-box". No auxiliary
generator (a must for any racing operation) and no roof air conditioning. The
single rear wheel pickups are woefully lacking in load carrying capacity.
Presently (since 1990) I'm using a Ford 460 super cab (2-doors, small
jump seats in back) 1-ton dually with a 11 1/2' slide-in camper with an
auxiliary generator (propane, which is a pain), roof A/C, a shower, and a
microwave. This rig carrys the 4000lb camper while towing the 7000lb 20'
enclosed trailer. It's been all over the Western US to nostalgia drag meets
as well as LSR.
I personally like the idea of towing the race car with the same vehicle
that becomes my home for the duration of the trip. I like the notion of
camping in or near my race pit, having a secure place to get out of the sun
and heat, having my own bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom with me, and while on
the road not having do deal with the drunk with the loud TV next door at the
motel, not having to stand in line to eat at some restaurant, and literally
not being tied to some lodging reservation schedule or deadline.
At the races the RV isn't the ideal push-vehicle. Generally I recruit
some friend to use their pickup as a push truck.
Even though the RV is equipped with air-conditioning, running the
generator all day at Bonneville or the Lakes isn't the most practical idea.
Generally it's better to take advantage of the shade in the pits than to
"hole-up" in the RV to beat the heat.
At Bonneville I always have a space at the local KOA. After a day on the
salt I just plug in to the utilities at the KOA, turn the A/C on, shower at
the KOA facilities, and go to the buffet at one of the casinos. By the time
dinner is done the RV has cooled down (unless the KOA circuits take a hike
from overloading) and comfortable to sleep in.
The RV is best for sleeping, breakfasts, lunches, and having your own
handy bathroom. I generally only fix dinners in the RV when on the road to
and from the races. The rest of the food I carry is breakfast and lunch
fixins plus lots of water and assorted soft drinks.
For nearby races I also have a single axle open trailer (with no brakes)
that will handle either the Modified Roadster or the dragster. I pull this
with my Dodge Dakota which is powered by a 318" V8. This setup is easier to
drive than the RV but presents the obvious problems regards sleeping, eating,
and guarding your exposed goods on the way to and from the races.
At one time I had a 3/4 ton 1978 Dodge van with a 360"Mo-Par. The van had
a little 12v reefer, a limited water supply, a small propane stove, and room
to sleep a couple of people. There was no pop-top, and a little storage area
in the back of the rig, under the bunk. The 360"Mo-Par was pretty much
overwhelmed by the 20' enclosed trailer. The whole rig was just too limited
and light duty.
If I were to replace my current rig it would be with a
mini-motorhome-type RV with at least a 460 Ford or 454 GM powerplant. I would
keep it as short as I could and still have an auxiliary generator, roof A/C,
and better interior lounging than the standard dinette, preferably a couch
that made into a bed plus a couple of swiveling captaind chairs with a table
between them for eating.
Ardun Doug King
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